Council approves interim accounting contracts after heated debate over scope and oversight
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Summary
The Ojai City Council approved short-term contract extensions with accounting consultants to complete year-end closing and implement the accounts-payable/PO module after extended public comment and debate over costs, transparency and whether to prefer in-house hiring.
The Ojai City Council on Wednesday approved amendments to short-term accounting contracts intended to finish the city’s year-end close and launch an automated accounts-payable/purchase-order module while the city continues recruiting a full‑time accountant.
City Manager Ben Harvey and interim finance staff told the council they still lack a staffed accountant position and need consultants to fill day‑to‑day accounting work and systems implementation. Staff said MB Chang will continue to provide hands‑on accounting assistance at published hourly rates (senior accountant $80 an hour, accounting technician $50 an hour) and Eide Bailly will continue systems and implementation work. Council members and residents pressed for limits on scope, clearer deliverables and tighter oversight by the finance & budget committee.
Public speakers urged urgency and transparency. Resident Clay Creasy criticized payments to Dignity Moves for a separate Cabin Village project and warned the city to scrutinize contractor invoices; another remote commenter alleged months‑long delays fulfilling public records requests under the California Government Code. Council members said they want a clearer timeline for recruitment and a review of how to build institutional knowledge.
After an initial motion to approve the full extension of Eide Bailly’s contract failed, the council approved a narrower amendment limited to essential work: completing the year‑end trial balance and implementing the accounts‑payable/PO module. The council directed the finance & budget committee to review Eide Bailly’s scope and return a recommendation at the midyear budget presentation in February.
City staff repeatedly assured the council that funds exist in the adopted budget and that the city’s general‑fund reserve remains above the policy threshold; staff reported TOT and other revenues are higher than initially budgeted and expect to include unaudited actuals in the January finance committee packet.
What comes next: staff will continue recruitment for the vacant accountant position, proceed with the PO module launch, and return with a midyear budget update and the finance committee’s recommended scope for consultant work.
Quotes
“We need this in order to be able to deliver what you want,” City Manager Ben Harvey said, urging the council not to interrupt the accounts‑payable implementation. “If you don't have them, we don't have somebody else that can fill that gap.”
“These expenditures seem to be sapping that away and we’re unclear as to when that might end,” Council Member [name not specified in transcript] said, urging better reporting and oversight.
